Tennessee Technological University Whitson-Hester School of Nursing consists of diverse students who are seeking a nursing degree to bring about a positive change in the healthcare delivery system. The department consists of highly qualified educators, scholars, and staff who are committed to serving the health needs of a diverse society while also providing good leadership in the advancement of the profession.
The nursing students at Tennessee Technological University Whitson-Hester School of Nursing are committed to a life-long learning process of interdependent/independent and self-initiated learning. Students learn in an environment that stimulates intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and professional growth. The clinical rotations in some of the top healthcare facilities and simulation labs allow them to grow in self-confidence and assertiveness. The students are even invited to collaborate with the faculty to assist in curriculum planning, policymaking, and the development and evaluation of learning experiences, thereby playing an active role in the teaching/learning process. As such, the graduates of the school are very well prepared to work as generalists who are responsible for counseling, health promotion, prevention of disease, and the care of the sick in all kinds of healthcare facilities.
Undergraduate Programs: The traditional Bachelors in Science in Nursing program at Tennessee Technological University Whitson-Hester School of Nursing is a 4-year program where students learn not only in the classroom but also throughout Middle and Ease TN in different hospitals and in different focus areas.
Similarly, there is a 2nd-Degree BSN program designed for students with a prior bachelor’s degree which is an accelerated program that can be completed in 15 months.
There is also an RN-to-BSN program which is a fully online program available for RNs with associate degrees to complete their bachelor's degree and open doors to bigger and better career options.
Graduate Programs: The MSN program at Tennessee Technological University Whitson-Hester School of Nursing prepares students for managerial roles and roles in patient safety, quality control, policymaking, patient and staff advocacy, legal, ethical, and regulatory compliance, and other leadership roles. The MSN degree is available in five areas; RN-to-MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Education.
Finally, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program focuses on practice and is designed to prepare experts in advanced nursing practice.
The nursing school at Tennessee Technological University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.
Degree types you can earn at Tennessee Technological University include CNL, Family Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nursing, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus and online formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Accelerated BSN, Bachelor Degree, DNP, Master Degree, RN to BSN and RN to MSN level degrees.
For nursing students in Tennessee, the state average NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 90.04% and for BSN programs is 88.89%. The average national NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is N/A% and for BSN programs is N/A%.
Out of 52 nursing schools in Tennessee, the nursing program at Tennessee Technological University ranks #5 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #86. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 96.33%, giving the Tennessee Technological University an overall grade of A.
Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for Tennessee Technological University
- Grade: A
- NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 96.33%
- Tennessee State Rank: 5
- National Rank: 86
Best Online Nursing Programs for Tennessee Students
In-state nursing schools are preferable to out-of-state programs as your tuition and logistics for attending school will be considerably less than if you attended school out-of-state. Online nursing schools are also an option.
Compare Tennessee Nursing School Rankings
Compare Tennessee Nursing Schools | ADN | BSN |
---|---|---|
Number of Nursing Programs | "26" | "26" |
Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 90.04% | 88.89% |
NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 75.70% to 98.30% | 53.33% to 100.00% |
Best Ranked School Details | ADN Rankings for Tennessee | BSN Rankings for Tennessee |
Tennessee Technological University
Whitson-Hester School of Nursing
Pass Rate

- 1 William L. Jones Drive, Cookeville, TN - 38505-0001
- (931) 372-3101

- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 96.33%
- Programs: CNL, Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, Bachelor, MSN, RN to MSN
University Information
Total Faculty: 465
In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $9,802
Book and Supplies: $1,280
Percent Received Aid: 98%
Average Grant or Scholarship: $7,613
Percent Admitted: 80%
Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 32%
Graduation Rate: 57%
Cities in Tennessee Offering Accredited Nursing Programs
If you are not finding the right nursing program in Cookeville or want to compare nursing schools from other cities in Tennessee? Compare average NCLEX scores, in-state and out-of-state tuition costs as well as schools with strong alumni networks. The following is a list of cities in with accredited nursing programs in Tennessee: Blountville, Bristol, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Collegedale, Columbia, Cookeville, Dyersburg, Greeneville, Harriman, Harrogate, Jackson, Jefferson City, Johnson City, Knoxville, Lebanon, Martin, McKenzie, Memphis, Milligan College, Morristown, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Pulaski and Tullahoma
.
Additional Nursing Programs in Tennessee
- Aquinas College
- Austin Peay State University
- Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences
- Belmont University
- Bethel University
- Carson-Newman University
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Christian Brothers University
- Cleveland State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Cumberland University
- Dyersburg State Community College
- East Tennessee State University
- Fisk University
- Freed-Hardeman University
- Jackson State Community College
- King University
- King University
- Lee University
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Lipscomb University
- Martin Methodist College
- Maryville College
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Milligan College
- Milligan University
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- Northeast State Community College
- Pellissippi State Community College
- Remington College-Memphis Campus
- Roane State Community College
- South College
- Southern Adventist University
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Strayer University-Tennessee
- Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Technological University
- Tennessee Wesleyan College
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- The University of Tennessee-Martin
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Tusculum College
- Union University
- University of Memphis
- University of Phoenix-Nashville Campus
- Vanderbilt University
- Walters State Community College
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After graduating with a degree in English Literature from UCLA, Jeff published four editions of the World Wide Web Yellow Pages by Barnes and Noble, and several editions of the Best of the Web. He’s worked as an executive at both startup and mature companies including CareerPath.com and Microsoft. With nearly three decades of publishing and business development expertise, he now puts that experience to use operating RNCareers.org to help future nursing students get reliable information on registered nursing careers.
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics